Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations, the latest expansion for id Software's demon-slaying title, has landed with a generally positive reception from players, though a new weapon introduced in the DLC is proving to be a significant point of division. Despite recent layoffs at developer id Software, the expansion appears to be a hit, with many players praising its scope and design.
On Steam, Revelations currently holds a 'Very Positive' rating. Some players have likened the expansion to a successor to Doom Eternal, a sentiment echoed by a hands-off demo previously observed. One player remarked that the expansion "doesn't even feel like a DLC, this feels like a full on sequel," while another described it as "a tribute to everything Doom while still being innovative." Game director Hugo Martin had previously stated that honoring the series' history was a key goal for Revelations, particularly with its bonus 'retro levels' and overall design.
However, a closer examination of player feedback on platforms like Steam forums and Reddit reveals a notable dissatisfaction with the new Chain Spear weapon. This weapon features a wide array of upgrades and abilities, which some players find overwhelming. "My problem is too many options with a single item. Surrounded by enemies I struggle to choose the correct attack so I just spam everything at complete random," posted Steam user Terepin.
Other players have expressed frustration with what they perceive as a lack of clarity in the game's tutorials regarding the Chain Spear's controls, noting that they are unbound by default. "It feels like no one play-tested the spear controls," one user commented. This has led to sentiments like, "I'm like an hour in and I can't wait to get the shield back. I hate playing with this thing so much."
Revelations continues the narrative established in the base Doom: The Dark Ages, which is set prior to the events of Doom 2016. The expansion adopts a Metroidvania-like structure with a focus on endgame content. The Chain Spear, along with other new upgrades, is designed to enable the Doom Slayer to traverse distances more effectively, contrasting with the base game's more deliberate, tank-focused combat encounters. Eurogamer's review of the base game, Doom: The Dark Ages, awarded it four stars, describing it as "a more grounded Doom, but one that's as brisk and playful as ever."